Zinc oxide levels affect trace mineral absorption in piglets

Despite environmental and public health (bacterial resistance) issues, supranutritional levels of zinc oxide (ZnO) are still commonly used to prevent diarrhea in post-weaning piglets. In Canada, these levels represent more than eight-fold the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) proposed maximum levels at 300 mg/kg, said Dr. Danyel Bueno Dalto, Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre.

The limited knowledge of the consequences for the metabolism of trace minerals has hampered the replacement of this strategy without compromising piglet health, he said during the 2023 Animal Nutrition Conference of Canada.

Dalto and colleagues performed a series of studies to better understand the impact of dietary zinc (Zn) levels on trace mineral metabolism. In a bioavailability study, Zn concentrations of 200 mg/kg impaired copper (Cu) intestinal absorption at 20 mg/kg, he said.